The Underworld Official's Debt

Old Immortal Yang Mei, though a Golden Immortal, was not adept at enduring direct physical attacks. A flash of Immortal Light appeared in his eyes, and thick vines instantly grew in the air, weaving into a dense, impenetrable net.

With a sky-shattering roar, a giant fist smashed down, only to be firmly ensnared by the resilient vine net.

The Long-armed Ape Monkey roared and leaped into the air, smashing its fists fiercely against the vine net. Another boom echoed, but the vine net didn't budge. Instead, it sent the Long-armed Ape Monkey staggering back to the ground.

Flower-Fruit Mountain shook violently, and rocks tumbled down. The hunters had never witnessed such a scene; their faces were ashen.

Old Immortal Yang Mei remained composed, exhaling a breath of immortal energy. Instantly, branches grew wildly all over the mountain, weaving into a barrier that steadily blocked the falling boulders.

He rode the clouds into the sky, looking down at the struggling Long-armed Ape Monkey, and flicked his finger.

The vine net suddenly tightened, binding the Long-armed Ape Monkey's massive body firmly to the ground.

"You've actually cultivated to Earth Immortal. It seems you did swallow the Immortal Pills." Old Immortal Yang Mei chuckled calmly and raised his hand again.

A sharp wooden spike shot towards the Long-armed Ape Monkey's brow. With a "crack," the spike broke after only piercing the outer skin.

Old Immortal Yang Mei's expression showed surprise: "This Dharma Idol's defense is this formidable! If I were to throw this monkey into the alchemy furnace, I could surely refine a Golden Core."

Just as he was about to tighten the vine net to capture the Long-armed Ape Monkey, a shrill scream came from below.

He looked down to see the Red-buttocked Macaque holding a large saber, having already slain all the hunters. Two Underworld Officials swiftly arrived, throwing out chains to capture the wandering souls.

Two more Underworld Officials appeared and took away the souls of the hunting dogs as well.

The Red-buttocked Macaque glanced at Old Immortal Yang Mei, then charged at him with his saber, riding the clouds.

Old Immortal Yang Mei sneered, "Another one? Perfect, that makes two Golden Cores."

A flash of green light flickered in his eyes, and countless Jia Mu divine lights suddenly appeared, instantly shattering the saber and piercing the Red-buttocked Macaque's limbs, locking him in mid-air.

The Red-buttocked Macaque spat blood, his Immortal Light flaring, activating "Yin Rotation."

A dark light wrapped around Old Immortal Yang Mei, and his flesh rapidly dissolved.

Old Immortal Yang Mei was greatly alarmed. He formed a hand seal and chanted, splitting off a wood elemental clone to bear the brunt of the dark light while his true body retreated rapidly.

He dared not delay, fiercely urging his Wood divine light and vine net. The two monkeys cried out in pain and fainted.

The Long-armed Ape Monkey's Dharma Idol dissipated, returning to its original form. Old Immortal Yang Mei waved his sleeve, drawing the two monkeys to his side.

Zhuang Yan watched the battle from the sky. Seeing that the Red-buttocked Macaque and the Long-armed Ape Monkey were new to the immortal path and their techniques were clumsy, they were no match for the Golden Immortal-level Old Immortal Yang Mei.

He transformed into the appearance of Sun Wukong and suddenly appeared before Old Immortal Yang Mei. Old Immortal Yang Mei's vision blurred, and upon recognizing the newcomer, he was utterly terrified: "Sun... Sun Wukong! You've escaped?!"

Zhuang Yan waved his hand, freeing the two monkeys from their restraints. He activated "Myriad Laws from the Heart" and kicked Old Immortal Yang Mei off the cloud. Old Immortal Yang Mei fell in a disheveled mess, hastily forming a hand seal for Wood Release and fleeing Flower-Fruit Mountain without looking back.

Zhuang Yan chuckled, using his magic power to send the two monkeys back to the Water Curtain Cave, then flew away, heading straight for Wubin Town.

Old Immortal Yang Mei fled back to Wubin Town in a panic and rushed into the alchemy room, shaking his drowsy disciple, Six Jin: "Hurry!"

Six Jin woke up with a start, grabbing his master's sleeve and urgently asking, "What happened?"

Old Immortal Yang Mei trembled, "Sun Wukong broke free from Five Finger Mountain and has returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain!"

"How could this be?" Six Jin froze, then shook his head, "Master, wait! The seal set by Tathagata Buddha hasn't been broken. How could he escape so easily? Could someone have impersonated him?"

Hearing this, Old Immortal Yang Mei calmed down slightly. As instructed, he set up an incense table and burned a letter, summoning the Youyi Spirit Officer. Green smoke coalesced into a divine image, and the Spirit Officer's voice was like a clear spring, "What guidance does Great Immortal Yang Mei seek?"

Old Immortal Yang Mei bowed and said, "May I ask the Spirit Officer, where is Sun Wukong now?"

The Spirit Officer hesitated slightly and replied, "I was on patrol today and saw that monkey king still suppressed beneath Five Finger Mountain."

Old Immortal Yang Mei let out a long sigh, secretly praising his disciple's quick wit. The Spirit Officer asked back, "Does the Great Immortal have any other questions?"

Old Immortal Yang Mei collected himself, quickly took out a thousand Purple Coins and placed them on the altar, then cupped his hands and smiled, "Thank you for your trouble, Spirit Officer. I only have this one question."

Upon seeing the Purple Coins, the Youyi Spirit Officer immediately smiled, "Great Immortal, you are too kind. This humble one shall continue his patrol."

As soon as his voice fell, the Youyi Spirit Officer's figure vanished, and the thousand Purple Coins disappeared with him.

Old Immortal Yang Mei put away the altar and returned to his residence in Wubin Town with Six Jin. On the way, he repeatedly praised, "Disciple, you are indeed clever. Your master was almost deceived."

Six Jin looked at his master and smiled, "Master is just feeling guilty and scaring himself.

Old Immortal Yang Mei sighed, "Yes, your master has indeed done something he shouldn't have. Don't learn from me."

Returning to the alchemy room, they saw the furnace fire burning brightly. Inside the furnace lay a round, glowing Immortal Pill. Old Immortal Yang Mei was overjoyed and turned to shout, "Disciple, the pill is ready! Quickly retrieve it!"

Six Jin had been abandoned as a child, and Old Immortal Yang Mei had rescued her and taken her as a disciple. In her heart, her master was like a father, and Old Immortal Yang Mei treated her as his own daughter; their master-disciple bond was deep. She had also fully assisted in the hunt for the monkey spirit to refine the pill this time, so she was naturally delighted to see the pill completed.

She quickly took out a red gourd and went forward with her master to retrieve the pill. Old Immortal Yang Mei formed a hand seal and chanted, and the furnace lid flew open. Unexpectedly, the Immortal Pill suddenly leaped up, hitting the furnace opening, and the entire alchemy furnace tilted towards Old Immortal Yang Mei.

The old immortal calmly sent out a beam of immortal light to steady the furnace, but with a "bang," the immortal light was crushed. Only then did he sense something was wrong. Just as he was about to dodge, his legs went weak, and he watched helplessly as the alchemy furnace crashed down.

White smoke billowed, filling the alchemy room. Old Immortal Yang Mei didn't even grunt; his physical body had been reduced to ashes by the furnace fire.

"Master!" Six Jin cried out and pushed the alchemy furnace away, only to see a pile of ashes on the ground. She breathed a sigh of relief and turned to find her master standing intact to her front left.

She hurried over, accidentally stepping on and scattering the pile of ashes. Old Immortal Yang Mei touched his forehead and sighed. Six Jin reached out to pull him but grasped empty air.

After a moment of stunned silence, Six Jin finally understood: "Master, you..."

"It's quite clear, your master is dead," Old Immortal Yang Mei said with a bitter smile. "As expected, it was a tribulation. A dignified Golden Immortal was killed by an alchemy furnace."

Six Jin could easily push this alchemy furnace away, and the furnace fire couldn't harm her. Yet, her master, with his Golden Immortal cultivation, couldn't escape, ending up with his body and soul utterly destroyed.

His gaze fell back to the alchemy furnace. The immortal pill was long gone, clearly just an illusion.

Six Jin suddenly turned, staring at the scattered ashes on the ground, trembling. "Master, could this be..."

Old Immortal Yang Mei nodded slightly. "It is your master's ashes."

Six Jin's tears immediately poured down like rain as she hastily cast a spell to gather the ashes. When she had tidied everything and turned back, she saw two underworld envoys standing beside Old Immortal Yang Mei—Black and White Impermanence. With Old Immortal Yang Mei's cultivation, how could ordinary underworld officials possibly seize his soul?

Black and White Impermanence bound the old immortal's soul and began to leave. Six Jin, clutching the urn of ashes, rushed out, spreading her arms to block the two underworld generals.

Old Immortal Yang Mei, however, appeared calm and gently advised, "Six Jin, do not offend the underworld generals. My fate has run its course, and dying to fulfill my tribulation is the way of heaven. When I reincarnate and cultivate anew, we will meet again on the immortal path."

"Master is leaving, what should I do?" Six Jin choked out, wiping away tears.

The old immortal smiled and comforted her, "You have already cultivated to the Profound Immortal realm. As long as you cultivate in seclusion in your grotto-heaven, you will face no disaster. Return to your Dao cultivation site in Liuzhou. I have left all my lifelong treasures there."

"But in this vast ocean, how can I cross?"

These words made Old Immortal Yang Mei hesitate. Liuzhou is one of the Ten Continents, separated from the Four Great Continents by an immeasurable sea. It would indeed be difficult for Six Jin to cross with her current Dao Cultivation.

Suddenly, a figure flickered in the distance. Old Immortal Yang Mei squinted to recognize him for a moment before suddenly calling out, "Is that the Spirit Platform Divine Lord?"

Zhuang Yan looked around at the sound. The old immortal quickly waved to signal him. As Zhuang Yan approached, Black and White Impermanence immediately cupped their hands in greeting. "Greetings, Spirit Platform Divine Lord."

As Zhuang Yan returned the greeting, Old Immortal Yang Mei also bowed. "This humble Daoist is Yang Mei." Six Jin bowed along with her master.

"It's actually Great Immortal Yang Mei?" Zhuang Yan's face showed surprise, and he solemnly returned the bow. "It is an honor."

"Why are you here, Divine Lord?"

"Just passing by," Zhuang Yan replied with a smile. In fact, the immortal pill that had overturned the alchemy furnace was him, and he had come specifically to help the old immortal fulfill his tribulation.

His gaze swept over Black and White Impermanence, and Zhuang Yan asked, "Are you acquainted?"

"We are merely carrying out orders to collect a soul," Black Impermanence replied. White Impermanence smiled, "We have long hoped to make your acquaintance, Divine Lord."

Old Immortal Yang Mei sighed, "My tribulation has arrived. I am only reluctant to leave my young disciple to wander the mortal world. May I trouble you, Divine Lord, to send her to the Fangyu Institute of the True Palace of Great Mystery and entrust them with sending her back to her Dao cultivation site in Liuzhou?"

"It's a small matter," Zhuang Yan readily agreed. "I'll be going that way anyway."

The old immortal thanked him repeatedly and gave Six Jin detailed instructions. The young girl merely nodded tearfully, committing her master's words to memory.

Black and White Impermanence escorted Old Immortal Yang Mei away. If he were still alive, the two underworld officials would have treated him with utmost respect. Now that he had entered the underworld, there was no need for politeness.

Seeing her master disappear with the underworld officials, Six Jin burst into tears. Zhuang Yan stood in place and chuckled, "Cry your heart out. When you're done, call me, and I'll take you to the True Palace of Great Mystery." Six Jin choked back her sobs upon hearing this, wiped her tears, and bowed. "Please, Spirit Platform Divine Lord, let us depart immediately."

Zhuang Yan surveyed his surroundings, and seeing no one else, he rode the clouds with Six Jin straight into the heavens. Upon arriving at the True Palace of Great Mystery, he led her to the Fangyu Institute—an office dedicated to managing affairs of the Ten Continents and Three Islands. Six Jin, using her master's name, requested to be sent back to her Dao cultivation site in Liuzhou. The immortal clerks in the institute immediately agreed and arranged for a celestial boat to depart in an hour.

"The matter is concluded. This Lord shall take his leave." As Zhuang Yan was about to depart, Six Jin suddenly bowed deeply again. "Thank you, Divine Lord, for escorting me." Zhuang Yan waved his hand and smiled, "Six Jin? That's an unusual name." The maiden's eyes reddened. "When Master found me in the mortal world, I weighed only six jin." Zhuang Yan nodded. "Strange, but wonderful. May your journey home be smooth."

Leaving the Fangyu Institute, Zhuang Yan returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain. The Long-armed Ape Monkey and the Red-buttacked Macaque had already awakened and showed shame upon seeing the Divine Lord's return. Zhuang Yan comforted them, "You have only just begun your immortal path. How could you contend with an old immortal who has cultivated for thousands of years?" For the next six months, he remained in the mountain, repelling cultivators seeking the immortal pill, either by making them fulfill their tribulations or by reasoning with them. When the two monkeys' cultivation advanced and no more visitors came to the mountain, Zhuang Yan quietly departed one dawn. The monkeys, grateful for his kindness, erected a divine statue and offered daily worship.

[On the third day after Zhuang Yan's return to his palace, Lu Hanzhi urgently requested an audience. Chi Ling led her into the hall. Before Zhuang Yan could ask, Lu Hanzhi prostrated herself and urgently reported, "Divine Lord, Miss Lian'er is about to give birth!"]

[Zhuang Yan immediately rose and said to the Fire Spirit True Immortal, Vanguard Hu, and Chi Ling, "Follow me."]

[He summoned his cloud light and flew directly to Liuzhen Peak with the four of them, landing outside Lu Hanzhi's grotto-heaven. Looking up, dark clouds covered the peak, and demonic light flickered.]

[Zhuang Yan waved his hand and set up the Myriad Laws from the Heart barrier. The dark clouds and demonic light immediately dissipated. Screams of agony emanated from within the grotto-heaven. Chi Ling trembled all over. "I swore long ago never to marry or have children."]

"Why?" Vanguard Hu asked.